Listen to this article:

New Delhi: A close reading of Gujarat’s final voter rolls for 2026 reveals a massive demographic deficit. While the state’s adult population has grown naturally over the last decade, the registered electorate has undergone significant contraction. 

Approximately 92.4 lakh eligible adults – representing 17.5% of the potential voting base – are missing from the current rolls. Unlike other states approaching polls, Gujarat is in a non-election year. This suggests that the large-scale removal of voters has occurred away from the high-intensity scrutiny of an active campaign cycle.

To assess the health of the voter list, psephologists use the Elector Recorded Percentage (ERP) – the ratio of registered voters to the projected 18 population. According to the Technical Group on Population Projections (TGPP) data, the projected total population for Gujarat in March 2026 is 7,40,86,000. 

After subtracting the ineligible population under 18 years – calculated at 2,08,11,000 by summing the 0–4, 5–9, 10–14 cohorts and 60% of the 15–19 age group – the total eligible voting population stands at 5,32,75,000 (5.33 crore). However, the actual final ECI roll as of February 2026 stands at 4,40,30,725 (4.40 crore).

The resulting........

© The Wire